Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #593637 in Books
• Published on: 2001-05-09
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 96 pages

Customer Reviews

Needed a Few More Doses of MASK
It's a bit of a mixed bag.

On the plus, you've got a great style of animation, true-to-their-part characters, and a really nice fusion between DC and Darkhorse. Not to mention Poison Ivy. No arguements from any men here, right?
But classic MASK fans might be disappointed. The violence and gore is all but stripped away for this graphic novel, and made it much more PG-13 like the Jim Carrey film or the beloved Batman Animated Series than the original comic. (No complaints on my part, but I know that many MASK fans feel that way.)

There's also the question of why they chose the Joker to take on the manic mantle of our favourite green-headed anti-hero. One of the greatest and funniest gimmicks of The MASK is how it morphed a person's mind around, but with the Joker, there wasn't that much to morph.

Don't get me wrong; I love Joker and his henchwench Harley, but I actually got more "MASK merriment" from Joker's unwitting henchman "Snuck" who accidentally wore it first, than from the Clown Prince of Crime's super-powered crime spree.

But overall, I did enjoy it, if nothing else than for the brilliant animation. (I have yet to find an animated Commisioner Gordon that I didn't like.) However, I'd advise this comic moreso for the Joker and Harley Quinn fans out there than for the MASK fans.

The title may have been split 50/50 between Joker and MASK, but the story sure wasn't.

A very funny crossover
When the Joker find a magical mask that transforms the wearer into an invincible, outrageously funny character, he finds his dream come true. For Batman and the citizens of Gotham City, though, it's one long nightmare. Lieutenant Mitch Kellaway of Edge City is on hand, and he knows that things are worse than the Gotham City police know; the mask will eventually drive its wearer insane and for the Joker that's not a drive, but a put. Things are about to go from bad to worse...to worst. Hang on for the ride!

Comic books have a tradition of "crossovers," where characters from a completely different story make a surprise appearance. In some cases the results seem forced or out-of-keeping with the story. Fortunately, with this book, such is not the case. In this book, the creators succeed in making a humorous and interesting blend of the Mask character (as seen in the movie of the same title) and the Joker. Also, the other characters (Batman, Commissioner Gordon, et al.) stay in character, as the wacky Joker/Mask bounces off the walls, and wrecks general mayhem.

I got this book for my eight-year-old son, and must admit that we both loved it. The story is funny and yet gripping, and the graphics are well done. We both highly recommend this book to you.